Page 6 of Heartbeat Girl

“If you’re here watching me, I want you to come to me. I need to see you,” she sang.

My eyes widened. Was Ruth actually trying to communicate with Amit on stage? Fear made my mouth taste like cotton. There it was again. That feeling that something bad was about to happen.

“More like, I miss you, and you don’t get to decide everything.”

Shewastalking to Amit. Could he really be alive? His bank accounts, credit cards—everything was untouched since he disappeared. What did she assume the rest of the world didn’t? And what did it mean for her?

As soon as she walked backstage, I approached her. I normally had a bottled water ready for her after each performance, but I’d been spellbound and stuck in the same spot the entire time.

Although I knew the answer, the static inside my mind made me ask, anyway. “Who are you looking for?”

Her shoulders drooped. “For someone that isn’t going to show.”

She truly,deeplyloved Amit, and that was my fault. I forced her to meet him when she was reluctant to.

“Is this about Amit?” When she didn’t answer, my forehead creased. “It’s been six months. I don’t think…” I wouldn’t say anything cruel about Amit’s disappearance. Whether he was alive or dead, I refused to hurt her further. Grabbing her hand, I placed her cell phone in it. “Here’s your phone. I got to grab our things in the dressing room, and we can go.” Unless Ruth said otherwise, most performances she wanted to leave straight away, even if it meant waiting to change out of her stage wear.

I rushed to grab her things. Ruth was upset because Amit didn’t show. I planned to make her happy with some wine and those peppermints she loved so much. When I returned to the spot I left her in, though, she wasn’t there. I glanced around, looking for her. The Oppressors were behind the closed curtains, unhooking their instruments.

Realizing I had to engage in a conversation with them, I sighed and then asked, “Have you guys seen Ruth?”

Liam looked up from his guitar. Once he took me in, he dropped his head and sighed. Rubbing the back of his neck, Liam glanced at his bandmates. All three furrowed their brows. It was an odd, tense look that made my spine tingle and my head ache. That look. Why did I constantly feel like everyone knew something I didn’t?

“She might have gone backstage,” Liam finally answered.

“Okay,” I muttered, slightly pissed and frantic. I didn’t know why either. Maybe it was the weird vibe everyone kept giving me. Ruth was a grown-ass woman ten times more than capable of taking care of herself.No, never mind. I took care of that woman. There was nothing she owned that I didn’t buy or order for her. For Christ’s sake, all her credit and debit cards were in my purse.

I ran to the room again and then checked every other dressing room before genuine panic set in.Calm down.I worried too much. Ruth probably had Rupert take her to the bus. I slammed into someone as I dashed out of the last room. “Ah, there you are, Jayne.” It was Rupert. “Are you and Ruth ready to get out of here?”

“You haven’t seen Ruth?” I asked.

He frowned. “No. Is everything okay?” He straightened, glancing left and right. “Has there been anyone suspicious backstage?”

I shook my head. “No one’s allowed backstage. You know Ruth doesn’t sell backstage passes. She always wants to leave right after the concert.”

“You’re right.” Grabbing his phone, he called someone. “We need to search for SoulGoddess. Call me when she’s found.”

Hearing his words amped up my nervousness. My fingers grew numb as I rubbed them against my palm. “I’m going to go look around the stage again,” I said and dashed away.

The Oppressors were still there. Their instruments were packed and ready to go, so I found it odd they were idling around, especially eyeballing me as I ran. My stomach twisted in knots as I bumped into a worker.Where are you, Ruth?

“Hey, you okay?”Liam.

I was so panicked that I barely noticed how close he was. Not glancing his way, I replied, “I can’t find Ruth. I’m worried. Did you see anyone suspicious backstage? Someone that looked out of place?”

“Relax. She’s fine.”

“You don’t know that,” I snapped and glared in his direction. I jumped when my phone started ringing. Ruth’s name flashed on the screen. I closed my eyes and exhaled. “It’s her,” I told Liam with a smile, then answered the call. “Where are you? I’m looking for you.” I glanced around once more for her.

“I’m going to need you to look after Moose again,” Ruth blurted. Static hit my ear, followed by a car horn. She was outside, so I headed for the double doors.

“What?” I stammered.

“I hope you’ll still go visit Ma and keep her company. You think she doesn’t like you, but she does.”

No, no, no.Ruth wasn’t doing whatever she was doing.

“Jayne, I’m so glad you put that application in. I found a friend that day. You renewed the faith Liz stole from me.”

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